NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards opens for entries in 2018

The NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards is now open for entries for the 2018 programme.

Now in its sixth year, the Awards celebrate the hard work and inspiring stories of entrepreneurs and businesses in Great Britain, not just the balance sheet.

Having expanded to five cities in 2017, the NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards will return to Cardiff, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh and London again in 2018. 2017 saw over 1,350 entrepreneurs enter, and 56 individual winners crowned across the five regions.

This year sees the return of the ‘Service Industries’ category, with the addition of the ‘Entrepreneurs’ Team’ award, which will recognise the vital hard work and dedication of an entrepreneur’s core team in creating and running a successful business.

Since its launch, the NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards has celebrated some of the UK’s brightest entrepreneurs. Previous winners include: James Watt of BrewDog, Julie Deane OBE of The Cambridge Satchel Company, Shaun Pulfrey of Tangle Teezer, and Sophie & Hannah Pycroft of Spectrum Collections.

Creator of the NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards, Francesca James, said: “We’re very excited to be open for entries for 2018. Last year was an incredible year for the NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards and for entrepreneurship in Great Britain.

“The prize that can be won by the UK, if it can rise to the challenge of creating a more entrepreneurial mindset is massive, and an entrepreneurial UK can remain one of the most important economies in the world for the foreseeable future.

“We had over 1,350 applications last year and heard some phenomenal stories, so it is clear that entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well and these changemakers deserve to be celebrated and championed.

Recalling their experience with the Awards in 2017 after winning the ‘Family Business’ and overall ‘Great British Entrepreneur of the Year’ awards for their region and nationally, Sophie & Hannah Pycroft of Spectrum Collections, said: “Even if you don’t win, we met so many amazing people at the networking event and final, so you’re going to meet contacts who might be able to help your business, and you can support their business. We never thought we were going to win, especially when we saw the competition in the categories. We still are gobsmacked. It’s amazing to celebrate your business because you work damn hard, so you need to shout about your success.”

NatWest continues its headline sponsorship, while MINI has extended its partnership for a fifth year. 2018 will also see the NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards continue to champion and support the hard work of The Prince’s Trust in inspiring young lives in the UK. Other partners celebrating entrepreneurship in 2018 are Propel by Deloitte and Esme Loans.

Gordon Merrylees, Head of Entrepreneurship at NatWest, said: “After the huge success of last year’s NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards we are delighted to be continuing our support again this year.

“Spectrum Collections, our 2017 overall winner, are a shining example of true hardworking entrepreneurs that opitimise the very best entrepreneurial talent the U.K. has to offer. Small and medium-size businesses are the beating heart of the UK economy and entrepreneurs that demonstrate a growth mindset are pivotal to this success.

“It is essential we recognise these individuals, celebrate and role model their successes for others to emulate. We really look forward achieving this even more in our 2018 NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards.”